Interview With Carson D. Mell Writer And Director Of Another Evil By
James Whittington, Saturday 27th August 2016

As usual the Discovery Screens are packed with some of the freshest talent around and one movie has really stuck out for me this year. Another Evil is a sharp, smart and thoughtful movie that is not what it seems at first so I decided to chat with the writer and director of this movie, Carson D. Mell.

HC: Where did the idea for Another Evil come from?

CM: I wanted to make an exorcism movie that more realistically reflected what I think an exorcism is actually like, and motivated by.

HC: Did the script change much from first to final draft and did you have a cast in mind?

CM: No, I didn't do too many drafts of the script. I am very much about budgeting enthusiasm, especially for something indie, and I didn't want to work it to death and get bored of the idea. I didn't have a cast in mind, but the cast I ended up with was the kind of players I'd envisioned when writing the story. Except for Dax, I had him in mind while writing.

HC: Mark and Steve who play Os and Dan are just superb together on screen you can't keep your eyes of them; did they have to work hard on this screen chemistry?

CM: They worked very hard. They were rehearsing and hanging out the entire time while we were getting sets and shots ready. They took it upon themselves to do this and it was super helpful.

HC: Was it hard balancing the comedy and the horror as it is incredibly funny in places totally juxtaposed with superior moments of unnerving tension?

CM: It's all hard, but I just try and make everything feel real. The real world is always scary and funny to me, so I just try and make things feel genuine.

HC: What was the hardest scene to shoot?
CM: Having the actors tied to the beam and gagged was not easy for me. I'm much less sadistic than I thought I was, and I just felt bad having actors be uncomfortable.

HC: This is your first feature, what did you learn from it?

CM: I learned way too much to say, but one thing I learned is that the director has to be the eye of the storm, and that remaining calm, or at least projecting that you are calm, is key to making things work.

HC: Is the movie trying to say something about the charlatans that are out there and do you believe in ghosts/paranormal events etc?

CM: The movie is a direct reflection of how I believe the world operates. That's all I'll say.

HC: The film is getting its UK premiere at Horror Channel FrightFest, are you nervous about that?

CM: Nope.

HC: So, what projects are you working on at the moment?

CM: I am making an animated show called, Tarantula for TBS. It's something I've been working on for for years.

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You were born in Cannes so you grew up with film all around? When did you know for sure you wanted to direct?

MT: I think it's always been there. As a child, I used to steal my dad's VHS camera to make mini-movies. They were basically all about my Jurassic Park toys eating my dog or invading the garden. Later, I did more elaborate short films with friends, instead of studying. Then, I remember watching Braveheart and the making of the ...

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Was it important to make your follow-up film to Baskin in the English language?

CE: I wanted to make the film available for a wider audience and to test myself with a different language movie. I thought it was a fun thing to do.

How do you describe Housewife? What would be your perfect pitch line?

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From the emotional making of a low-budget slasher to zombie nightmares, Gothic horrors, an outrageously strange mind cult, a sci-fi alien action extravaganza, a comic strip creature feature and the last word in Killer Clowns, this year-s line-up is an eclectic mix of the quirky, unusual and extreme.

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HC: You've had an incredible career gaining huge acclaimed across both sides of the Atlantic, how did you get your first acting break?

SD: I guess it was at drama school- I went to LAMDA and we did a musical 'Babes in Arms' for our final show- I guess it suited my voice or something 'cos I got offers from 13 agents!!! I was flabbergasted!!!

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